The Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) is considered to be Hawaii’s only native (endemic) land mammal, meaning that it can’t be found anywhere else in the world. The Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee passed a bill 7-0 on February 8, 2011, that recognizes the endangered bat. It could become the official land mammal for the state of Hawaii.

While the Hawaiian monk seal is Hawaii’s state mammal and looks a lot cuter to many people., the Hawaiian hoary bat is receiving support because of its rarity and uniqueness. The proposal will next go to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Hawaiian hoary bat is a subspecies of the North American hoary bat. Hoary means frosted, and the bat is called like that because of its white-tipped body hairs. Native Hawaiians called the bat Opeapea, referring to the hoary bats’ half-taro leaf outline. The bat can be seen mainly on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii, but only rarely on Oahu.